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There is a possible case of bad author behavior afoot today. Galley Cat posted about Alice Hoffman's reaction to the review of her soon to be release book, The Story Sisters, she received from Boston Globe freelance critic, Roberta Silman.
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"Now any idiot can be a critic. Writers used to reviews writers. My second novel was reviewed by Ann Tyler. So who is Roberta Silman?"
"Girls are taught to be gracious and keep their mouths shut. We don't have to.".
"No wonder there is no book section in the Globe anymore - they don't care about their readers, why should we care about them."
"Writers have a way to talk back now."
Also, the reviewer's phone number and email was posted for all to see.
You may ask, why I haven't posted any screen caps of @AliceHof's tweets? A very mysterious thing happened. A few hours ago the twitter account was deleted.
Is this a case of an author who didn't think before she spoke and in her anger went off at the mouth? Perhaps the @AliceHof twitter acount was an imposter? Or hackers broke into the twitter account to make her look like a fool?.
We will probably have word from Alice Hoffman's spokesperson or publicist in regards to this..
I am a big fan of Hoffman's book, but if Hoffman did indeed post those tweets, I would say this is a big case of bad author behavior. Can one review, that wasn't so horrible, really ruin book sales? And why would a high profiled author act in such a way in public, and on Twitter?.
You complain in private to close friends and people you trust. Or go ahead an make a voodoo doll and stick pins in it. In public have some tact and act professional...
Because now I picked up the story from Galley Cat and posted the story on Twitter. Some of my followers saw it and re-twitted it, which reaches all their followers. And keep in mind I also emailed the link to some friends who also have blogs and twitter accounts.
Word of mouth is a very strong thing.
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UPDATE: A hacker wasn't responsible. It was Alice Hoffman who did the twitter ranting and deleted her account.
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15 comments:
If the account was deleted, I would strongly suspect it was an impostor or was hacked. If it was really Hoffman making those remarks, then... wow. That's all I have to say.
Wow! I was on Twitter when you first mentioned this and I checked the @AliceHof account. Now it's gone. I don't know what to think. If it was an impostor, why would someone do this? It actually makes more sense for it to have been Alice Hoffman herself. It wouldn't be the first time an author has had a public meltdown over a non-glowing review. Does anyone remember Anne Rice throwing a hissy fit on Amazon a few years ago? She said something asinine like her words were pure genius and she was too good to have an editor.
Good thought about the hacker. You may be right there. It is just so strange a thing to do.
I believe Alice Hoffman made the remarks herself.When the smoke cleared -- she deleted. A hacker is possible, but geez... let's be real!
That's the thing about Twitter, it seems to be so easy to hack and many well known people have had their twitter account hacked. It would be different if she blew up on blogger or Wordpress or LJ, which aren't as easy to hack.
On the other hand, if she really did have a melt down, then getting rid of the evidence is the quickest way to shut people up and get on with things.
I think a lot of people just don't think about what they are saying and how many people are really reading what they write. On forums like Twitter, it's so hard to keep remembering that you aren't just talking to your friends having a private little conver, you're talking to all of your followers, followers of followers and so on. Plus, anyone can search you and read what you say without following.
If she did really do it and wasn't hacked, well then, she will have to pay the price for whatever fallout there is.
I understand authors getting pissed, but public rants like that only look bad for the ranter.
People need to remember what they say online is there forever in one way or another!
Seems odd either way.
I had a 3 out of 5 stars review for one book - and bravely requested my publisher send the next book in the series. The result - 4 out of 5 for that one. There's better ways to battle less than stellar reviews!
I think this will end up in my Friday roundup post!
L. Diane Wolfe
www.circleoffriendsbooks.blogspot.com
www.spunkonastick.net
www.thecircleoffriends.net
Now I have been hacked before and had a hacker delete my blog etc etc.
That makes sense since they do not know if anyone even cares about my website just me. So a delete would get my attention and really only piss me off right?
So a hacker impersonating someone like an author and then knowing enough about her and talking about a bad review that just happened and going on and on about it all over several posts???
Sorry, but I find that hard to buy.
You've probably already seen this, but check out the comments from an author here: http://www.steamthing.com/2009/06/review-of-alain-de-bottons-pleasures-and-sorrows-of-work.html#comments
"I will hate you till the day I die and wish you nothing but ill will in every career move you make. I will be watching with interest and schadenfreude." WoW, dude. Talk about professional!
Posting the reviewer's phone number and email address online is...beyond the pale. That's making it personal and is IMO unacceptable.
I think Hoffman is channeling Anne Rice. Remember Anne freaking out on Amazon because the reviews for her book were not what she felt her masterpiece deserved?
Well, now we've seen she did indeed write those tweets, what with the apology that's been issued. Funny how the apology is not issued towards the reviewer she slams, but anyone she "might" have offended. Why bother making the apology at all if she's not sorry enough to actually apologize to the reviewer she felt the need to slam in the first place?
That newer set of comments by Alain de Botton today get a double take only because they sound more like a kindergartner on a playground. How can one reviewer soly destroy his career in the U.S.? If this was indeed true, he'd have a possible legal case against the reviewer, right? As it stands, the author's reaction shows it all for the ludicrous situation his reaction is.
Tweets never disappear. Check out tweleted . Com I may have spelling wrong but you can google deleted tweets and find the site
but if Hoffman did indeed post those tweets, I would say this is a big case of bad author behavior.
In the grand scheme of things, all I can come up with is *meh* who cares. So she behaved badly, so what? Yeah okay it'll last on the internet for our grandkids to see but really? How important is it?
Amie: it is one thing for her to rant, but post the reviewer's phone number and tell her followers to call and complain, is something that puts a bad taste in my mouth
That is just low.
But in the grand scheme of things, nothing. Look at Anne Rice? She had a bitch fest and is still writing and publishing.
Thank You for posting this. I linked this post on my site.
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